Chapter 220: Will Always Protect Her

Mu Youyu pulled Jiang Liangjin to sit, lifted her head to look at Qing An beside her, and said, "Qing An gege."

Qing An responded, seeing Jiang Liangjin sit beside him, he sat up straight, "You don't need to worry about me, really, just enjoy yourselves."

Jiang Liangjin nodded, "Okay, Qing An gege."

After everyone sat down, Mu Youyu immediately leaned close to Song Huaixian, "Song Huaixian gege, why did you call A Jin over?"

Song Huaixian propped his chin, smiling, deliberately drawing out his words to tease her: "What else could it be? Thinking our treasure can't be parted from him, I had him come along."

Mu Youyu understood the teasing, got up and went to the other side of Jiang Liangjin, sitting next to Mu Xin, "You're bullying me; on WeChat you said it was because you hadn't seen me in a while."

Before Song Huaixian could defend himself, Mu Xin beside him said lightly, "Alright, stop always bullying her."

Song Huaixian spread his hands, looking helpless.

Qing An: "You're so pitiful."

Song Huaixian gave a soft hum and ignored him.

Mu Youyu, seeing that asking him yielded no useful information, casually added, "By the way, where's the second older brother?"

Mu Xin lifted her eyelids slightly and said indifferently, "I don't know."

Qing An, who had been sitting quietly aside, put away his phone and continued, "He went out to play with your Lu Jing gege."

Mu Youyu let out an "oh", looked at Song Huaixian, and said, "Song Huaixian gege, what do you need A Jin for?"

Jiang Liangjin also raised his gaze to look at him, his brown eyes holding a hint of doubt.

"We haven't seen each other in ages!" Song Huaixian's words had barely fallen when his phone vibrated.

He lowered his head to glance at the caller ID, his expression slightly changed, and quickly stood up, "You all keep chatting, I'll take this call!"

Mu Youyu: "Okay."

He returned after the call, steps hurried, waving at her and Mu Xin, "Youbao, Xinbao, I'm leaving first!"

Mu Youyu frowned, blinking her big eyes, "You said you hadn't seen A Jin in a long time, didn't you?"

Only then did Song Huaixian realize his earlier and later statements contradicted; he smiled, quickly walked to Jiang Liangjin's side, hooked his arm around his shoulder, half-dragging, half-pulling him outward, "Come on, come on, long time no see—you have to see me off."

Jiang Liangjin said nothing, didn't refuse, but as he was pulled up, he instinctively glanced back at Mu Youyu.

Mu Youyu: "……"

Mu Xin spoke up: "It's the older brother who has something to ask him."

She pursued: "What is it?"

Mu Xin softened his tone, ruffling her hair, "I can't tell you."

Mu Youyu felt he might as well not have said anything.

Forget it; I'll wait for A Jin to come back and ask him myself—after all, A Jin never hides anything from her.

She asked again: "Has Ling gege gone back?"

Mu Xin: "Yes, he went to handle his affairs over there."

Not two minutes after seeing Song Huaixian off, Jiang Liangjin turned and walked back to the living room; Mu Youyu immediately waved at him, "A Jin, do you want to stay the night?"

Jiang Liangjin's heart skipped a beat; looking at the girl's bright eyes, he almost nodded in agreement.

Mu Xin beside him gave a light cough, looking at him with a half-smile, "Young Master Jiang's home isn't far; you'd better go back, lest Uncle Jiang worry."

Mu Youyu was dissatisfied, "It's only seven o'clock now, still early!"

Jiang Liangjin came to his senses, suppressed his fluttering heart, smiled at her, "Youbao, I'm heading back first."

Mu Youyu felt a bit disappointed, yet still nodded, "Alright then, be careful on the road, and send me a message when you arrive."

Mu Xin watched Jiang Liangjin's retreating back, then suddenly realized something.

"Wait, he had something to discuss with Jiang Liangjin—how could he let him leave so quickly?"

He stepped forward a few steps and called out, "Hold on."

Jiang Liangjin hadn't gone far; hearing this, he instinctively turned back, smiling slightly, "Xinbao gege, what's up?"

Mu Xin met his gaze and said calmly, "Stay the night; the guest room is ready."

Jiang Liangjin was surprised, naturally wouldn't refuse—after all, staying at the Mu family's residence is a rare opportunity—"I'll follow Xinbao gege's lead."

Mu Youyu felt in her heart, sighing that her brother's mind changed so quickly.

Mu Xin said, "I'm going to get a meal; you two keep playing."

Mu Youyu didn't object, she grabbed Jiang Liangjin's wrist and headed upstairs, "A Jin, I'll take you to the game room!"

"Okay." Jiang Liangjin let her lead him.

The two went upstairs and played for two hours; when Mu Youyu wanted to sleep, Jiang Liangjin deliberately went downstairs once.

The living room was very quiet; only Mu Xin sat on the sofa, a thick book pinched between his fingertips, the light falling on him, outlining a somewhat aloof silhouette.

The servants had all withdrawn; Qing An had already left.

Mu Nian and Mu Xi had not yet returned.

Seeing Jiang Liangjin come downstairs, Mu Xin closed his book, lifted his gaze, and said, "Sit."

Jiang Liangjin sat as instructed, his eyes falling on the book in Mu Xin's hands, "Xinbao gege, you're not asleep yet."

Mu Xin gave an "en", his gaze calm as he looked at him, getting straight to the point, "I have something to say to you."

Jiang Liangjin gave a slight nod, having anticipated this in his heart, "About Youbao?"

Mu Xin wasn't surprised he could guess that; after all, the only intersection between them had always been his precious little sister.

He spoke bluntly, "What are your intentions toward her?"

This wasn't a question; it was a statement.

He and everyone else knew this already; he just wanted to use it as an opening.

Jiang Liangjin lifted his eyes, his gaze open and frank, with no concealment, "Older brother, you already know."

Since their childhood days of innocent friendship, he had always stayed by Mu Youyu's side, shielding her from those ill-intentioned glances.

After he understood his own thoughts, he never considered hiding them.

Mu Xin's fingertip stalled; he fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking, his tone carrying a warning: "You may have thoughts, but don't mishandle the Jiang family's affairs, or she will feel wronged. The elder brother and Brother Xiao, out of respect for Grandfather Jiang's face, cannot act directly, so they can only let you handle it cleanly."

Jiang Liangjin knew he was referring to Jiang Huan's shady little moves; a flicker of coldness crossed his eyes, "I will handle it well."

Mu Xin stared at him, eyes sharp: "Youbao was raised in the Mu family's palm; she is gentle‑hearted, soft‑minded, cannot tolerate even a speck of sand in her eyes, yet she also hates to see you troubled. But you must understand: the Jiang family's affairs are your affairs; don't let her follow you, hearing idle gossip and watching faces."

Jiang Liangjin looked at his face, identical to Youbao's, yet showing a completely different expression, and earnestly said: "Xin Xin brother, I promise you, I will always protect her; I will not let her, because of me, hear even half a rumor or see even a hint of displeasure."

Until he could stand openly and honorably by her side, until no one dared to show her the slightest disrespect.

Mu Xin listened quietly; after a long while, he finally let out a soft 'mm,' and the tension in his lips eased a fraction.

"Words alone are not enough." He then pulled out a pre‑drawn document from the book, pushed it toward Jiang Liangjin, and said, "Sign it; if you don't sign, you can go home."